Notes from the Beautiful Periphery

Places: Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park

Photos and Musings

9 hrs ago • Vanessa Johnson

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Women's Bodies on the Border

“If the earth is constantly rearranging itself, then what is a frontier?

Mar 3 • Vanessa Johnson

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February 2026

On Hospitality

Two weeks ago, I deactivated my Airbnb listing for the Book House after nearly thirteen years of continuous hosting.

Feb 24 • Vanessa Johnson

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Celebrating One Year of Notes from the Beautiful Periphery!

So we had an interesting week in El Paso.

Feb 17 • Vanessa Johnson

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Lists I've Made

At 10 years old, all 69 pounds, 4-foot 10-inches of me, I decided to introduce myself to my new diary.

Feb 10 • Vanessa Johnson

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The Hungarian in New Mexico

I first met Istvan Fuzak, 74, in 2002 when he was a new ski instructor at Ski Apache.

Feb 3 • Vanessa Johnson

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January 2026

Who Deserves to Die?

A Reflection on Dehumanization

Jan 27 • Vanessa Johnson

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On Air

“The earth is a place of circular systems: growth and decomposition, rainfall and evaporation, alive with the cycling of air currents that shunt the…

Jan 20 • Vanessa Johnson

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Voices: The Syrian Superheroines of El Paso

El Paso saw significant migration of Christian Syrian and Lebanese families through Mexico in the early 20th century, and is home to St.

Jan 13 • Vanessa Johnson

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On Brotherhood

I was eight years old when we saw the movie “Short Circuit,” and my little brother began to talk like a robot.

Jan 6 • Vanessa Johnson

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December 2025

Places: Juárez on Boxing Day

The day after Christmas, I had arranged to spend a few hours alone with a friend and go on a Juárez adventure.

Dec 30, 2025 • Vanessa Johnson

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On Water

I just finished reading a book by the British author Robert Macfarlane with the deceptively simple title-question, Is a River Alive? The question alone…

Dec 23, 2025 • Vanessa Johnson

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